I get knocked down!

Acts 14

 ¹⁹ Then some Jews came from Antioch and Iconium and won the crowd over. They stoned Paul and dragged him outside the city, thinking he was dead. ²⁰ But after the disciples had gathered around him, he got up and went back into the city. The next day he and Barnabas left for Derbe.

Paul is amazing. He gets stoned by some Jews. He gets knocked down, but he gets right back up and gets back in the game. How many of us would have done that? I certainly have had that happen to me. Some people intentionally take people down. Some people do it without even thinking about it. Still other people know exactly what they're doing and enjoy it. 

I'm not sure why I keep getting up. Sometimes I feel like I'm in a "Rocky" movie and my corner keeps telling me to stay down. I'm bloody, bruised, and mentally exhausted. But, for some reason, I keep getting up and doing the same things I've been doing. I'm either stupid or driven. I'm not sure which (please don't answer that)

God is always in my corner and he is the one who keeps encouraging me not to give up. He stays with me when I'm beaten, battered and abused. He is my "fight doctor". He heals me and keeps me in the fight and he has miraculous powers to heal me. I'm sure he was doing the same thing for Paul. He was beaten physically, but God was there to put him back together and helped him get back in the game. Ask him. God will do the same thing for you. He doesn't want us to give-in to evil. He wants us to keep over coming the enemy.Endurance will win in the end!

Why I don't drink beer!

Romans 14

 ¹³ Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister. ¹⁴ I am convinced, being fully persuaded in the Lord Jesus, that nothing is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for that person it is unclean. ¹⁵ If your brother or sister is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer acting in love. Do not by your eating destroy someone for whom Christ died. ¹⁶ Therefore do not let what you know is good be spoken of as evil. ¹⁷ For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, ¹⁸ because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and receives human approval.

I  like beer. But, I don't drink any more. I used to. I stopped drinking beer many years ago for a simple reason. I did not want beer to be a stumbling block in my ministering to people. Both in the Christian community and non-christian community, it is expected that Christians do not drink alcohol. This isn't true for everyone but most people.  Alcohol and Beer are not evil and I certainly do not condemned anyone who drinks. Like I said. I like Beer. Drunkeness is a different story. Drunk Driving is absolute craziness. Under-age drinking is also wrong. But, Alcohol is not wrong.

I still chose not to drink and I do it for the Lord. It's a sacrifice that makes a statement that I care more about how I represent Christ than what I eat or drink. 

I go on many organized motorcycle rides with various groups. Many of them stop at Bars to drink. I also stop, go inside and enjoy ordering a diet or a water. I end up having the same amount of fun as everyone else. I just choose to do it without alcohol. One of these rides, I was referred to as a "do gooder" because I wasn't drinking. All of these bikers know I'm a Christian. I am on display. They want to know how I will act. They watch me to see if I will "fold". In their eyes, they are looking to see if I'm a hypocrite. Do I live up to the standards THEY have set for Christians? I think it's my own personal statement that I don't drink, but still don't condemn them. Many Christians really condemn people for drinking alcohol. This is so sad. They don't see the barrier they are putting between themselves and these people. We need to build relationships with people not destroy them. We can not let the use alcohol build a barrier. Christ didn't go into situations with Sinners condemning them. If I remember correctly, I think he challenged the so called "Sinless" people to cast the first stone. I also think they all turned away and left, ashamed. Just sayin!

Tell it like it is!

Acts 13

 ⁶ They traveled through the whole island until they came to Paphos. There they met a Jewish sorcerer and false prophet named Bar-Jesus, ⁷ who was an attendant of the proconsul, Sergius Paulus. The proconsul, an intelligent man, sent for Barnabas and Saul because he wanted to hear the word of God. ⁸ But Elymas the sorcerer (for that is what his name means) opposed them and tried to turn the proconsul from the faith. ⁹Then Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked straight at Elymas and said, ¹⁰ “You are a child of the devil and an enemy of everything that is right! You are full of all kinds of deceit and trickery. Will you never stop perverting the right ways of the Lord? ¹¹ Now the hand of the Lord is against you. You are going to be blind for a time, not even able to see the light of the sun.”

   Immediately mist and darkness came over him, and he groped about, seeking someone to lead him by the hand. ¹² When the proconsul saw what had happened, he believed, for he was amazed at the teaching about the Lord.

I really like people who tell it like it is. I'm not much of a politician. I don't like politicians and I can't stand political correctness. I'm sure that gets me in trouble sometimes. The Governor of New Jersey, Chris Christie is one of those guys that tell it like it is. You can disagree with him, but he is going to let you know what he thinks. People like that up front honesty.

As Christians we need to make sure we call a sin, a sin. We need to make sure when we talk to unbelievers they are clear what the truth is.  There is only one path to God and it goes directly through Jesus. There is no detour. There is no alternative. The ONE GOD we serve is GOD. It's not good enough to be a "Good" person. It's not good enough to believe in God. We need to confess our sins, acknowledge that Jesus Christ is the Son of GOD and died for our sins, and ask him to come into our heart. It is only by his Grace that we are saved.

We need to tell it like it is. We need to be open an honest with everyone. The salvation plan is simple. But, if we wait, if we beat around the bush, if we worry about offending the sinner, we may never get the chance. Eternal life might hang in the balance.  The Holy Spirit will give us the words. The Holy Spirit will give us the boldness we need.

USA! USA! USA!

Romans 13

Submission to Governing Authorities

 ¹ Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. ² Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. ³ For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. ⁴ For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. ⁵ Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience.

 ⁶ This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing.⁷ Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.

The political season is heating up and as usual it's getting ugly. We are so mean to each other. I don't know how this got to be so popular. It polarizes our nation and after the election we always have hurt feelings. Then stubbornness sets in and then gridlock. Compromise? You never find it any more. We can't seem to get along unless a crisis occurs. 911 is a great example of that. But, recently even a crisis isn't a good enough reason to come together. Now we just argue about money, taxes, debt, entitlements, social issues, morality and a multitude of other minor squabbles. To outsiders it might appear that we hate our country. 

Well, I'm here to tell you I LOVE MY COUNTRY! I love what we stand for. I love our institutions and all our internal bickering. What other country do you know that doesn't resort to bloodshed to solve big issues? If other countries were facing the financial crisis that we are, or the downfall of our financial institutions a few years ago, they would have resorted to violence. We fight, we debate, we argue, and I wouldn't live anywhere else but here. We disagree with our elected officials, we get upset when they let us down. But, we don't go out and shoot them, we elect someone else. We have peaceful transitions between our political parties and we move on regardless if we agree or disagree with the ones in power. I don't care what people might say, Our country is endowed by God. Now, are we prefect? Nope. Governments are made of sinful people. ALL PEOPLE HAVE SINNED and fall short. Our government, run by people, is no different. But, it is the best and I love it! 

Thank You Lord for the wonderful gift to live in this country. We are blessed! May we never forget that the authority you have given them, over us, is real, it is divine, and we are to respect it. Praise God for the USA!

Praying is not Believing!

Acts 12

¹⁰ They passed the first and second guards and came to the iron gate leading to the city. It opened for them by itself, and they went through it. When they had walked the length of one street, suddenly the angel left him.¹¹ Then Peter came to himself and said, “Now I know without a doubt that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from Herod’s clutches and from everything the Jewish people were hoping would happen.” ¹² When this had dawned on him, he went to the house of Mary the mother of John, also called Mark, where many people had gathered and were praying. ¹³ Peter knocked at the outer entrance, and a servant named Rhoda came to answer the door. ¹⁴ When she recognized Peter’s voice, she was so overjoyed she ran back without opening it and exclaimed, “Peter is at the door!” ¹⁵ “You’re out of your mind,” they told her. When she kept insisting that it was so, they said, “It must be his angel.” ¹⁶ But Peter kept on knocking, and when they opened the door and saw him, they were astonished. ¹⁷ Peter motioned with his hand for them to be quiet and described how the Lord had brought him out of prison. “Tell James and the other brothers and sisters about this,” he said, and then he left for another place.

I find this story somewhat comical, but I also find it a typical. I find it comical how Peter shows up at the door of a group praying for his release and the greeter is so shocked, she doesn't even answer the door. He is left at the doorstep! That's funny! But, I can certainly relate to this group of faithful followers. They are praying for God to intervene. When he does, they don't believe it. Am I like that?

 Just because you pray for something, doesn't mean you have faith it will happen. I know about this first hand. If it weren't so, why am I always so surprised when my prayers are answered? As a matter of fact, I think I'm equally surprised when they ARE answered as when they ARE NOT. My weak faith is not something I'm very proud of. I have seen time and time again, the power of God answering prayer, yet I am no different than these early believers. The more amazing the miracle of an answered prayer, the weaker my faith. My God is the creator of the universe. He has power I can not even imagine. He produces the miracle of life every day. This miracle is seen from sunrise to sunset. He provides a miracle every time I take a breath. This miracle occurs all around us and yet we still do not believe he can answer ANY prayer. I am so ashamed of my poor faith. But, I am also told that the Faith of a Mustard seed is enough with the power of THE God of all things. Praise God he doesn't rely on my weak faith to answer my Prayers. Praise God he hears me even in my imperfections! Thank You Lord!